Chronic And Acute Pain

12 Feb Chronic And Acute Pain

In order to understand pain management medicine, a person must understand that two general classes of pain exist. These are acute pain and chronic pain.

Acute pain is a type of pain that lasts for a specific period of time, usually a short period of time. An example of acute pain is that associated with stubbing a toe.

Chronic pain, on the other hand, is a type of pain that lasts consistently for an extended period of time. Indeed, in some cases, chronic pain can persist without any real interruption indefinitely. For many individuals suffering from chronic pain, a host of medical treatments prove ineffective at addressing the pain. In these types of cases, individuals oftentimes find relief from the pain by seeking professional treatment from a chiropractor.

Where Pain Occurs

Chronic pain can occur at any point in the human body that is considered a vulnerable point. More often than not, this includes muscles, bones and joints. Because of the common locations of chronic pain, a chiropractor can be particularly well suited to addressing this type of pain. Chiropractic care is specifically focused on treating conditions that more directly impact muscles, bones, and joints.

Causes of Chronic Pain

The causes of pain can be as particular as each individual patient. Indeed, chronic pain can be caused from everything from disease to injury to even some sort of a psychological issue or dimension.

Addressing Chronic Pain

In many cases, chronic pain cannot be completely resolved. Rather, pain management is utilized to try and control and lessen the symptoms of the condition for a patient. In many cases, significant progress can be made to lessen the level of pain, even for more extended periods of time.

The Impact of Chronic Pain

Another important reality of chronic pain is that it causes other problems for a patient. In other words, if an appropriate course of pain management is not undertaken, an individual can end up suffering from other very serious problems.

Fatigue is a common side effect of chronic pain, and can end up being a very significant issue. The fact is that many people afflicted with chronic pain that is not managed by a professional find themselves unable to enjoy appropriate sleep on a long term or persistent basis.

Chronic pain can negatively impact a person’s immune system, rendering them susceptible to a host of other serious maladies. Many people with chronic pain end up experiencing depression, including severe depression. Ultimately, a person with chronic pain that does not obtain an effective course of pain management can end up literally disabled. Many people in such a position are unable to work, or at least work in the manner to which they were accustomed.

In many cases, these associated conditions worsen over time, taking a real toll on that individual’s life and overall sense of well-being. These associated conditions underscore the need for a reliable and effective course of pain management – and early intervention whenever possible.